After a long bone has formed, it can continue to increase in length due to growth that occurs at the epiphyseal plate, which is also called the plate.

The epiphyseal plate, also known as the growth plate, is a layer of cartilage located at the ends of long bones. It plays a crucial role in the longitudinal growth of these bones during childhood and adolescence. The cartilage in the growth plate gradually ossifies, turning into bone as individuals mature. This process allows the skeleton to expand in length until the plate eventually closes, at which point the bone can no longer grow in length. Typically, this closure occurs after puberty, meaning that adults generally do not have epiphyseal plates. Understanding the function and importance of the epiphyseal plate is vital for studying bone development and growth disorders.